Leukaemia deaths from 2000 to 2012 among adult men in São Paulo State, Brazil.

Abstract

Introduction: There is evidence that occupational exposure to benzene increases the risk of leukaemia with a dose-response pattern. Benzene is classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC), a well-known cause of acute myeloid leukaemia and it is present as a contaminant in many common petrochemicals products. We aimed to evaluate leukaemia mortality rates among adult men from 2000-2012 in cities with oil refinery facilities and compare with São Paulo city and São Paulo State. Methods: Mortality from leukaemia (codes C91-C95, International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision) and population data were retrieved from the Brazilian´s Mortality Information System for the period 2000-2012. Leukaemia mortality rates for men aged 18-59 years for São Paulo State (SP), São Paulo city, and for cities with oil refinery facilities (Cubatão, Mauá, Paulínia, São José dos Campos-SJC) were calculated. Mortality rates were calculated and compared using STATA 13.1. Results: From among 728,853 deaths in São Paulo State in adult men from 2000-2012, 3,910 (0.53%) were by leukaemia. Leukaemia mortality rates were 31.32 in SP (excluding the city of São Paulo and the four cities), 37.30 in São Paulo city, and 34.93 in the four cities (42.75 in SJC). Comparing with SP rate, significant differences were found for São Paulo city (p<0.001), and for SJC (p=0.003). There is an indication pointing to higher rates in SJC compared with São Paulo city (p=0.12), and in the four cities compared with SP (p=0.118). Conclusion: These findings indicate that cities with potential ambient sources of benzene, such as oil refineries and intense traffic emissions, had higher mortality from leukaemia in São Paulo. More studies have been proposed to understand the relationship between benzene exposure and leukaemia occurrence in cities with oil refinery facilities in São Paulo State.